Headaches and Migraine Treatment

What is a headache and/or migraine?

Headaches:Headaches are defined as pain in the face, head, and sometimes the upper neck. The pain associated with headaches does not originate from the brain itself, as the brain is not pain sensitive, but rather this pain is sourced from structures near the brain such as bone structures and blood vessels. One of the most common causes of headaches is muscle spasms and/or muscle tension in the neck and upper back. Nearly all headaches are caused by the correlation of muscles and blood vessels.

Migraines: Migraines are a variation of headache that is typically more severe and accompanied by nausea, distortions of vision, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines are triggered by a variety of causes such as physical exertion, hormonal fluctuations, stress, and certain types of food and drink. Migraines can be extremely intense and even debilitating.

How We Treat Headaches/Migraines: Two of the main culprits behind headaches and migraines are muscle tension and muscle spasms of the the neck and upper back. Headaches/migraines are often caused by a response to pain in the upper neck and back, which leads to hyperactivation of the trigeminal pathway. When the trigeminal pathway is activated, it causes the inflammatory neurogenic response associated with headaches and migraines. Dr. Merryman can help prevent and relieve headaches/migraines by addressing the issue of muscle tension and muscle spasms in the neck and upper back. Treatment for muscle tension and muscle spasms commonly includes chiropractic adjustment, dry needling, or a combination of both.

Chiropractic Adjustments for Headaches/Migraines: Chiropractic adjustments improve spinal functions and release stress on the body caused by misalignment in the spine. A misalignment of the spine can cause contractions and tension of the muscles. Chiropractic adjustment can release tension in muscles and end muscle contractions responsible for causing headaches and migraines. More information about chiropractic adjustments hereDry Needling for Headaches/Migraines: Dry needling involves using thin filiform needles to that are inserted into the muscle to release tension points throughout the body. Dry needling is effective in treating headaches and migraines because dry needling immediately releases tension in trigger points in the neck and upper back that can cause headaches/migraines. To read more about the dry needling process, For more information on dry needling here​Sources used in this page: